Asda creates 2,000 jobs to reduce customer queues

Asda is to create 2,000 new jobs in a bid to cut waiting times at supermarket tills at weekends.

The supermarket chain, which already employs 130,000 people, decided to increase numbers of staff after carrying out research which found that Britons were spending 1.3 billion hours a year waiting in line.

The survey of 1,000 adults found that Britain was no longer a nation that liked to queue, with one-third admitting to queue-jumping. The Welsh were most likely to jump the queue, closely following by Londoners.

“We want to help customers get in, get round and get out as quickly as possible,” said John Irwin, Asda’s director of customer service. “Almost one-third of our customers shop exclusively at the weekends, and we think this scheme will make a real difference.”